Wire manipulating tool



Aug. 3, 1937' S. s. COLT v 2,088,900

WIRE MANIPULATING TOOL Original Filed Nov. 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 3, 1937. s. s. COLT WIRE MANIPULATING TOOL 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Original Filed Nov INVENTOR. .flzwwlfi. Unit,

2 TTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 3, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFMQE WIRE MANIPULATING TOOLSamuel S. Colt, Orange, N. J.

13 Claims.

This invention relates, generally, to an improved tool for manipulatingwire; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a noveltool for twisting and tightening wire ties. The present application is asubstitute for my previous forfeited application for United States.

may be usefully employed for many purposes, but

is especially useful as a means for tightening and securing wire tiesemployed in assembling parts of concrete pouring forms, in assemblingparts of building structures, and in various similar fields.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel tool for thepurposes described, comprising in combination a lever bar having meansto receive and engage wire ends. to apply twisting motion theretowhenthe lever bar is turned about its center, and a locking barrotatably related to said lever bar, having means cooperative with thelatter to dispose and grip the wire ends against slip when the wire issubjected to twisting movement.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularlyenumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed.description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the'tool of this in.- vention; Fig. 2 is abottom plan view of.the.same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional'viewofthe same; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on line 4- in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing the initial application of the toolof this invention to the ends of tie-wires of a concrete pouring formpreparatory to engaging and twisting said wires; and,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 in Fig. 5, the tool beingshown in side elevation.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing the tool operatively engaged withthe tie-wire ends and in the act of twisting thesame together; and Fig.8 is a vertical section, taken on line 88 in Fig. 7, the tool beingshown in side elevation.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 10 indicates alever-bar having oppositely and longitudinally extending handles l I.Secured to the central portion of said lever-bar to project laterallyoutward therefrom is a hubsleeve 52. Said hub-sleeve and lever barpossess a through opening or bore l3. Said lever bar is preferablyprovided, on one face thereof, with longitudinally disposed ribs [4, thesame being laterally spaced to provide a seat for a die-member 15. Saiddie-member l5 has a central opening l6, whereby the same may be engagedover said hub-sleeve l2. Said die-member i5 is further provided withlongitudinally spaced dieopenings l1, respectively on opposite sides ofsaid central opening it. Said leverbar is provided with openings I 8corresponding to and withwhich said die-openings IT register. Thedie-member i5 is preferably made of hardened. steel.

While it is preferred to employ the separable die-member IE, it isnevertheless not essential so to do, particularly in smaller sizes andcheaper grades of the tool, since, in the latter case, the openings l8of the lever-bar may serve as dieopenings, and the die-member l 5 may beomitted. The construction so modifiedis deemed to be and intended to bewithin the scope of the instant in-- vention.

Rotatably mounted on said hub-sleeve iii of lever-bar i0 is a lockingbar 19 also provided with oppositely and longitudinally extendinghandles 20. Preferably said locking bar I9 is spacedaway from saidlever-bar I0, and to this end one or more spacing washers 2| are engagedon said hub-sleeve l2, intermediate said bars it and iii. The outer or.free end portion of said hub-sleeve I2 is screw-threaded to receive akeeper nut 22 to retain said locking bar and lever-bar in mutuallycooperative assembled relation. Provided in one side margin of saidlocking bar l9, radially disposed from the common axis of rotation ofsaid locking bar and lever bar at a distance substantially equivalent tothe distance of one dieopening H from such axis of rotationis a shoulder23. A similar shoulder 24 is provided in the opposite margin of saidlocking bar is; the same being similarly disposed relative to the otheror opposite die-opening ll of said lever-bar. Secured to the locking-barto project from the under side thereof, and substantially alignedrespectively to the respective shoulders 23 and 2d, are abutment pins25. Said locking bar is further provided at each side thereof, andlongitudinally spaced from the respective shoulders 23' and 24, withlaterally projecting outwardly off-set wedge wings 26 having chamferedinner margins 27.

For convenience in initially bending wire into U-shaped ties adapted toembrace two or four inch form framing members, gauge studs 28' areprovided for fixed projection from the outer face of said locking barI9. Certain of said studs 28 are disposed substantially four inchesapart 1ongitudinally of the locking bar, while others thereof aredisposed substantially two inches apart laterally of the locking bar.Cooperative with the gauge studs 28 is a stop stud 29. If it is desiredto form a U-shaped wire tie of substantially four inch width, straightwire of desired length is laid behind the longitudinally spaced gaugelugs 28 and in front of the stop lug 29, whereupon the oppositelyprojecting end portions of the wire may be bent forward by hand toproduce the U-shape tie of desired width. In. like manner, if it isdesired to form a U-shaped wire tie of substantially two inch width,straight wire of desired length is laid behind the laterally spacedgauge lugs 28 and in front of the stop lug 29, whereupon the oppositelyprojecting end portions of the wire may be bent outwardly by hand toproduce the U-shaped tie of such desired width.

Illustrative of one use of the novel wire manipulating tool of thisinvention, I have shown, in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, theapplication of the tool to U-shaped wire ties 30 employed to bindtogether the frame or batten members 3| and sides 32 of a concretepouring form. In such case the frame or batten members 3i are disposedagainst exterior faces of the form sides 32, the latter being spacedapart by intermediate spacer struts 33. The wire tie 30 is disposed toembrace one frame or batten member, extending therefrom through thesides and interior of the form, with the ends thereof engaged about theother frame or batten member. Preferably a heavy nail, short length ofrelatively stiff wire or similar rod-like element 34 is disposed toproject outwardly from the outer face of the last mentioned frame orbatten member, and the free end portions 30 of the wire tie are looselytwisted around the same by hand, and thus disposed ready for theapplication of the tool thereto.

To operatively apply the tool to the wire tie end portions 30', theelement 34 is; inserted through the central bore or through opening I3of the lever-bar and its hubsleeve. With the locking lever I9 swung orturned to an angular position whereby the die-openings I! are exposed,

the wire tie end portions 30 are respectively entered through therespective die-openings Ii to extend therethrough, as shown in Figs. 5and 6. When the tool has been thus initially applied to the element 34and wire tie end portions 30, the locking bar I9 is turned (in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 5), thereby carrying the shoulders 23 and24 respectively into engagement with the projecting wire tie endportions r as is shown in Figs. 5 and 6). The turning of the locking barI9 is thereupon continued until the same is brought into longitudinalalignment with the lever bar ID. This continued movement of the lockingbar I9 relative to the lever bar, acts upon the projecting wire tie endportions 30', through the engaging shoulders 23 and 24, to bend over thesame exteriorly of the die-openings I I and into abutment with theabutment pins 25, thereby gripping or snubbing the wire ends againstlengthwise slip relative to the die openings I1.

Upon accomplishment of the above described operations, the user graspsthe parallel handle portions of both bars I0 and I9, and turns theentire tool about the central axis thereof and in the direction of thearrow shown in Fig. '7. The effect of this movement is to produce atwisting movement of the wire tie end portions about the element 34,thereby both drawing tight the stretches of wire extending around theframe or batten members and through the form, to bind the form sides andspacers tightly together in assembled relation, while also securing theends of the wire tie together. The advantage of using the element 34 isthat it provides a core about which the twisted convolutions of the wiretie ends may form, thus eliminating risk of kinking the wire withresultant likelihood of breakage thereof, and consequently permittingthe wire tie to be drawn to maximum tautness quickly, safely andefiiciently. It will be understood, however, that the use of the coreelement 34 is optional, and that in many cases the wire tie ends may bedirectly intertwisted together by the operation of the tool, since thewire twisting function of the tool is operative whether such coreelement is present or not.

After the wire tie end portions 38' have been twisted and securedtogether in the manner above described, the user turns the locking leverrelative to the lever bar in a direction opposite to that of the arrowshown in Fig. 5. Such movement of the locking lever carries the wedgewings 26 so that their chamfered margins 2'! slide beneath the bent overend portions 30 with lifting effect thereon so that the same are upbentback to normal substantially straight outward extension from thedie-openings I1, whereupon the tool may be drawn outwardly and away fromthe said end portions and the element 34, and thus removed from thefinished work.

One end of a handle 20 of locking bar I9 is provided with a bifurcateslotted portion 35. This end portion may be engaged with the projectingends of the wire tie and element 34, and

manipulated to turn or bend inward toward the face of the form wall suchprojecting ends.

From the above description it will be obvious that the tool of thisinvention affords a quick acting and powerful aid for the purposes in 1tended.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:-

1. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having spacedopenings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desired tobe twisted together, a locking bar rotatably connected with said leverbar, and said latter bar having means to engage and bend projectingparts of said wire end portions against withdrawal from said lever baropenings.

2. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having a centralhub portion, said lever bar having openings respectively spaced thereinon opposite sides of said hub portion for the extension therethrough ofwire end portions desired to be twisted together, a locking barrotatably mounted on said hub portion over said lever bar, and saidlocking bar having means to engage and bend projecting parts of saidwire end portions against withdrawal from said lever bar openings.

3. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having a centralhub portion, said lever bar having openings respectively spaced thereinon opposite sides of said hub portion for the extension therethrough ofwire end portions desired to be twisted together, a locking barrotatably mounted on said hub portion over said lever bar, and saidlocking bar having marginal shoulders to bend over projecting parts ofsaid wire end portions when said locking bar is turned relative to andinto alignment with said lever bar, and abutment means carried by saidlocking bar to engage said bent wire end por tions, all whereby thelatter are held against withdrawal from said lever bar openings.

4. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having a centralhub portion, said lever bar having openings respectively spaced thereinon opposite sides of said hub portion for the extension therethrough ofwire end portions desired to be twisted together, a locking barrotatably mounted on said hub portion over said lever bar, said lockingbar having means to bend over projecting parts of said wire end portionswhen said locking bar is turned in one direction relative to and intoalignment with said lever bar, and said locking bar having additionalmeans to engage and bend back to initial position said bent wire endportions when said locking bar is turned in the opposite directionrelative to said locking bar.

5. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar provided with acentral hub sleeve having a through opening to receive a core element,said lever bar having openings respectively spaced therein onoppositesides of said hub sleeve for the extension therethrough of wireend portions desired to be twisted together around said core element, alocking bar rotatably mounted on said hub sleeve over said lever bar,said locking bar having means operative on rotation thereof in onedirection relative to said lever bar to engage and bend projecting partsof said wire end portions against withdrawal from said lever baropenings, and said locking bar having additional means operative onrotation thereof in the opposite direction relative to said lever bar toengage and bend back said bent wire end portions to initial projectingpositions.

6. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having a centralhub portion, means on said lever bar providing a die-member seat, adie-member receivable in said die-member seat, said die-member havingdie-openings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desiredto be twisted together, a locking bar rotatably mounted on said hubportion, and said locking bar having means to engage and bend projectingparts of said wire end portions against withdrawal from saiddie-openings.

'7. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar having acentral hub portion, means on said lever bar providing a die-memberseat, a die-member receivable in said die-member seat, said die-memberhaving die-openings for the extension therethrough of wire end portionsdesired to be twisted together, a locking bar rotatably mounted on saidhub portion, said locking bar having means operative on rotation thereofin one direction relative to said lever bar to engage and bendprojecting parts of said wire end portions against withdrawal from saiddie-openings, and said locking bar having additional means operative onrotation thereof in the opposite direction relative to said lever bar toengage and bend back said bent wire end portions to initial projectingpositions.

8. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar provided with acentral hub sleeve having a through opening to receive a core element,means on said lever bar providing a die-member seat, a die-memberreceivable in said seat, said die-member having die-openings for theextension therethrough of wire end portions desired to be twistedtogether, a locking bar rotatably mounted on said hub sleeve over saidsleeve bar, said locking bar having marginal shoulders to bend overprojecting parts of said wire end portions when said locking bar isturned relative to and into alignment with said lever bar, and abutmentmeans carried by said locking bar to engage said bent wire end portions.

9. A tool of the kind described, comprising a lever bar provided with acontrol hub sleeve having a through opening to receive a core element,means on said lever bar providing a die-member seat, a die-memberreceivable in said seat, said die-member having die-openings for theextension therethrough of wire end portions desired to be twistedtogether, a locking bar rotatably mounted on said hub sleeve over saidlever bar, said locking bar having marginal shoulders to bend overprojecting parts of said wire end portions when said locking bar isturned in one direction relative to and into alignment with said leverbar, abutment means carried by said look-- ing bar to engage said bentwire end portions, and Wedge wings connected with said locking baroperative on rotation of the latter in the opposite direction relativeto said lever bar to engage and bend back said wire end portions toinitial projecting positions.

10. In a tool for the purposes described, a lever bar having spacedopenings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desired tobe twisted together, and means movably related to said lever bar forengaging and retaining said wire end portions against withdrawal fromsaid openings.

11. In a tool for the purposes described, a lever bar having spacedopenings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desired tobe twisted together, and manipulatable means carried by said lever barto bend said wire end portions relative to said lever bar to retain sameagainst withdrawal from said openings thereof.

12. In a tool for the purposes described, a lever bar having spacedopenings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desired tobe twisted together, means movably related to said lever bar forengaging and retaining said wire end portions against withdrawal fromsaid openings, and said lever bar having an opening intermediate saidfirst mentioned openings to receive a core about which said wire endportions are twisted.

13. In a tool for the purposes described, a lever bar having spacedopenings for the extension therethrough of wire end portions desiredtobe twisted together, manipulatable means carried by said lever bar tobend said wire end portions relative to said lever bar to retain sameagainst withdrawal from said openings thereof, and said lever bar havingan opening intermediate said first mentioned openings to receive a coreabout which said wire end portions are twisted.

SAMUEL S. COLT.

